Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant
from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Rebecca Ranson Papers

Dates: 1987-1996.

Bulk Dates: 1987-1989.

Collection number: Coll2008-021

Creator:
Ranson, Rebecca, 1943-

Collection Size: 1 archive half-carton.
0.2 linear foot.

Repository:
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.

Los Angeles, California 90007

Abstract: Materials, 1987-1996, relating to the life and
work of Lesbian playwright Rebecca Ranson, including scripts of three of her
plays (circa 1987-1989), a copy of
Stormy Road Onward (1996), a book of
interviews and stories by residents of single room occupancy (SRO) dwellings,
her resume (1990), and a small number of clippings by and about her.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection:
English

Access

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access
restrictions.

Publication Rights

Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in
writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the physical owner.
Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in
the materials. Note that ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant
copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for
all other materials directly from the copyright holder(s).

Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the
National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Biography

Rebecca Ranson was born in 1943. She received a Bachelor of Arts in
Radio, Television, and Film from the University of Georgia in 1970, and a
Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting at the University of North Carolina, Chapel
Hill, in 1975. She worked as a creative writing instructor in North Carolina in
1978-1979, and as project and workshop director, media producer, and writer at
WVSP Public Radio in Warrenton, North Carolina from 1979 to 1981. In 1982, she
served as Playwright-in-residence for The Road Company, Johnson City,
Tennessee, and from 1983 to 1985 she was Writer-in-residence at Harrisburg Area
Community College. In 1983, when her friend Warren Johnston was diagnosed with
AIDS, the center of her life became gay and lesbian issues. She became
Executive Director of the Southeastern Arts, Media and Education Project
(SAME), a multi-arts organization for the gay and lesbian community in Atlanta,
Georgia, in 1986, serving for twelve years. In 2004 she received the Robert
Chesley Foundation Lifetime Achievement award.

Ranson has written over 30 plays, many of them dealing with social
issues.
Warren, written after Warren Johnston died
of AIDS in April 1984, was one of the first plays concerning AIDS to be
produced. Other dramatic works on LGBT themes include
Desperadoes: A Trilogy (1982),
Secrets (1988),
A Glorietta (2000),
For Love and for Life, and
Lavender Hearts. After more than twenty
years of the AIDS crisis, she started writing a novel and conducting interviews
with People with AIDS (PWA), nurses, doctors, lovers, families and friends
exploring personal experiences in San Francisco and Atlanta.

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection consists of scripts of three of Ranson's plays (circa
1987-1989)--
For Love and For Life,
Secrets, and
Bathed in Blood--a copy of
Stormy Road Onward (1996), a book of
interviews and stories by residents of single room occupancy (SRO) dwellings,
her resume (1990), and a small number of clippings by and about her
(1987-1988).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.